Description

During the Ming dynasty there were three prefectures in northern Fujian Province: Yanping, Jianning, and Shaowu. Yanping Prefecture (present-day Nanping Shi) was established in 1369. The highest-ranking official was the prefect, who administered the counties, relayed the state government’s ordinances, controlled criminal courts, and levied taxes. During the Ming dynasty a prefect had a fourth-grade rank in the official hierarchy. Prefects often were involved in publishing local gazetteers. These works contained detailed descriptions of the state of affairs in a locality at a given period. The in-depth information they ...